Improvement in steam-engines



D. GOUGH. Steam-Engines.

No. 214,64 Patented April 22, I879.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

DIXON GOUGH, on GARROLLTON, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM-ENGINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 214,646, dated April22, 1879; application filed October 11, 1878.

To alt whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DIXON GOUGH, of Carrollton, in the county ofBaltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain Improvements inSteam-Engines, of which the following is a specification; and I dohereby declare that in the same is contained a full, clear, and exactdescription of my said invention,

reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon.

This invention relates to certain improvements in a duplex ortwo-cylinder engine, 6, adapted for a variety of purposes where areciprocating movement is required; and it consists in certain detailsof construction of the engine with the view of effecting a properintroduction and discharge of steam to and from the cylinders during thereciprocating movement before alluded to.

In the description of the invention which follows, reference is made tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and in which- Figures1 and 2 are, respectively, an exterior side view and a plan of theimproved duplex engine. Fig. 3 is an end view of the invention.. Figs. 4and 5 are views of parts of the improvements on an enlarged scale.

' Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts of the inventionin all the views.

A A are the cylinders of the engine, and

. B B the piston-rods, extending from the pistons, which pistons, havingno novel features, are not shown in the. drawings. The outer ends of thepiston-rods B B are provided with the pins a a, which connect them toracks G O, suitably supported and guided, and adapted to have alongitudinal movement parallel with the said rods.

The movements of the piston-rods are combined or transmitted to eachother; but their motions are in opposite directions.

The means for coupling the racks consist of a toothed wheel, D, locatedbetween and engaged with the racks U C; consequently the forwardmovement of one piston and its attachments assists in the backwardmovement of the other, and vice "ersa.

The two cylinders are provided with a single steam-chest, E, situatedbetween them, with steam and exhaust pipes F F F F, connecting it withthe ends of the cylinders. The steam-chest is fitted with a valve-seatand a valve, G, which is slid backward and forward upon the seat tocontrol the direction of the steam-currents.

The valve-moving mechanism consists of a vibrating arm, a, locatedwithin the steamchest and connected to the valve, and is actuated fromthe exterior of the said chest by a T-shaped arm, H, and tappets b b,projecting from the racks.

Other tappets may be used in connection with the ones described to giveto the T- shaped arm a supplemental movement, and 7 thereby increase theopening of the steamports in the steam-chest during the stroke, ifdesired; but in mostcases the arrangement shown is sufficient to effectthe proper workin g of the engine.

The operation of the engine is extremely simple, the direction ofmovement of the piston being governed entirely by the position of theT-shaped arm, which is actuated by the tappets b b.-

I do not claim reciprocating racks and a gear-wheel having concentrictherewith anarm with branches, operated on by pins on the racks to workseparate valves alternately; but,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and wish tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

In combination with the valve G and cylinders A A, having pistonsprovided with racks G G, and tappets b b projecting from their faces,the intermediate gear, D, and T-shaped arm H, adapted to be vibrated bythe said tappets, and thereby change the direction of the steam-currentsthrough the agency of a single valve, substantially as specified.

WM. 1. HOWARD, WM. 0. NIoHoLLs.

